Bi-rad 4c and waiting

The waiting really is the worst part, Lmcnz! I hope you are able to take advantage of a cancellation and get your biopsy out of the way sooner, and receive a b9 result soon after!

Lmcnz, I am so sorry you find yourself here worried about your breast health and awaiting a biopsy. Do you live in a small town with just a single available provider? If not, I'm not sure why it would take so long. I would encourage you to talk to your doctor (you don't give us many details, so I'm not sure if you initially went to your PCP or OB/GYN) and the radiologist who performed your imaging to find out what your options are for a referral to a different BS.

As far as the "odds" you asked about, I do not want to alarm you, but the positive predictive value of a BIRADS 4c score is approximately 79%. Read more about that scoring system here: http://breast-cancer.ca/bi-rads/ So that doesn't mean it's a certainty you have bc, but a month is a long time to wait to find out (and then wait again for your pathology results). It's time to get a bit pushy. Be firm, call often, ask what your options are.

Good luck!

Lmcnz,

I am also waiting. Had a mammogram and ultrasound on 7/19 after noticing "dimpling" at the bottom of my left breast. Had been told years earlier that I had fibrocystic disease. Did not feel anything new but that skin change prompted me to have the mammogram. Results were a 4cm X2cm irregular "mass" on the mammogram and same thing on ultrasound with "significant shadowing". BI-RAD rating of 5. I figure that is pretty much a sure thing and the biopsy is now only a formality. Have an appointment to meet breast surgeon on 8/2 to set up core needle biopsy. The waiting is driving me crazy. I empathize with what you are feeling.

deep breath. Your situation sounds very similar to mine. Went in for first mammogram, came out with birads 4, pleomorphic calcifications in L breast. Biopsy indicated DCIS. I'm 37. However, your biopsy has a chance of coming back B9... about 80% comes back B9.

After weighing my options, I decided to get a double mastectomy with direct implants. I don't regret my decision. The surgery and reconstruction wasn't so bad. Even though the initial shock was horrible, just realize that you're in the worst part of this journey. Waiting is for the birds, but sadly we all have to do it. See if you can get on the cancellation list. Let them know how anxious you are. Maybe then can prescribe xanax.

PM me if you need to talk. I understand the emotions you are going through. Hugs and positive vibes coming your way.

I am so scared. I had a 3d mammogram on September 13, 2018. I have had routine ones for 20 years. I am 61. I got called back for a mammogram and ultrasound on October 2nd. Today I got the results back from my doctor. BIRADS 4C. It said highly suspicious for malignancy. I have a core needle biopsy scheduled for October 10th. The doctor put in a referral for a breast surgeon today. The mass is only 8mm. He said it is extremely small. I am so scared it will be malignant. The waiting is terrible.

Jeepgirl1957

This information may help while you are waiting:

Table 35: Tumor size and breast cancer survival

I got my biopsy on Wednesday. Radiologist told me he thought I had a papilloma with atypia. He was joking and telling the nurse stories but was very calming. He said he got 5 good samples from it. Today I got a call from my doctor's nurse saying I have invasive breast cancer. I don't know anything else. I am so scared. I knew it could be in the back of my mind but I just don't know.. I have an appointment with a breast surgeon in 2 days.

Thank you. I am hopeful.

I went to see the surgeon today. He said the tumor is very small. We will be doing an MRI on Friday to determine if it has spread and also to check the other breast too. The plan if everything looks the same is a lumpectomy and then 30 radiation treatments and possibly a hormone. If it has spread plans may change to a mastectomy then chemo and radiation. I am hoping for the best.

Jeepgirl1957

Good luck with your treatments. I hope the best for you. I had an excisional biopsy Thursday so I'm awaiting my results now.

Hoping for the best possible outcomes for your MRI. Keep us posted.

djmammo

Thank you. It makes sense. I was curious as there isn't a lot of information out there about the natural progression of cancer without treatment, at least not that I have found. Understandably so as who would fund such a study or information. And I would imagine it would vary greatly by person depending on so many different factors.

Talbirad4, this thread specifically refers to a Birads "4C" and you do not have that information

Jeepgirl, I am 61 y/o like you are now. At 55, was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, small tumor, just under 1cm. It was a shock out of the blue as no signs, no lump, clean mammos prior. Then came the big wave of pre-op stuff, lumpectomy, radiation in a 4 month blur and then anastrozole for 5.5 years. And guess what? My oncologist just released me and said you are good to go--this cancer is gone. So here I am 6 years later, only a little worse for wear, with some bone loss due to the Anastrozole, nary so much as a scar, and feeling blessed. You too can do this!

hey, had biopsy today wasn't bad at all. They took 5 samples, mass does have blood flow. Now I just wait for report. I have appt with my breast cancer doctor on march 12. But I hope to get report before that. Waiting is awful